The present study investigated the influence of bacterial metabolites on monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) expression in pigs using in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro approaches. Piglets (n 24) were fed high-protein (26 %) or low-protein (18 %) diets with or without fermentable carbohydrates. Colonic digesta samples were analysed for a broad range of bacterial metabolites. The expression of MCT1, TNF-a, interferon g (IFN-g) and IL-8 was determined in colonic tissue. The expression of MCT1 was lower and of TNF-a and IL-8 was higher with high-protein diets (P, 0·05). MCT1 expression was positively correlated with L-lactate, whereas negatively correlated with NH 3 and putrescine (P,0·05). The expression of IL-8 and TNF-a was negatively correlated with L-lactate and positively correlated with NH 3 and putrescine, whereas the expression of IFN-g was positively correlated with histamine and 4-ethylphenol (P,0·05). Subsequently, porcine colonic tissue and Caco-2 cells were incubated with Na-butyrate, NH 4 Cl or TNF-a as selected bacterial metabolites or mediators of inflammation. Colonic MCT1 expression was higher after incubation with Na-butyrate (P,0·05) and lower after incubation with NH 4 Cl or TNF-a (P,0·05). Incubation of Caco-2 cells with increasing concentrations of these metabolites confirmed the up-regulation of MCT1 expression by Na-butyrate (linear, P, 0·05) and down-regulation by TNF-a and NH 4 Cl (linear, P,0·05). The high-protein diet decreased the expression of MCT1 in the colon of pigs, which appears to be linked to NH 3 -and TNF-a-mediated signalling.